School Days, Drool Days

Dear Hazelita, 
Big days have passed in your life and I was buried under a ton of photography jobs and have neglected our blog, which is a theme of all the most recent, not truly so recent posts.  Part of the photography I have been doing was at a sweet little nursery school, pre school and kindergarten extravaganza place I have done for 3 years now.  Each year the amazing director has encouraged me to enroll you, and finally a day came when I had a couple of loose ends to tie up at the school and you came with me.  You were quickly embraced by the kids in the play yard.  I started chatting with the kindergarten teachers.  You played and giggled and played.  When the kids were called to snack you were hanging in the playhouse and a buddy came and invited you to come for snack, too.  You joined their table.  You declared, "I'm 5!" Which received a chorus of, "Hey! I'm 5!"  "Me, too!" "I was 5 in August!"  As we were leaving, the director stopped me, she had been seeing you in the play yard.  All it took was a side head tilt and a, "Lisa!" and I was making the plans to have you start school November 1st.  You did start school.  Full of nervous vibrations, sturdier by your relentless self confidence, your hugs goodbye were brief.  You have attended about 2.5 weeks and are in love. 

In love with signing in, saying hello to Ms. Robin the lady who floats around playing her harp, with the girls, with the boys, with bringing home crafts you made, with daddy coming in the talk about his wheelchair, with speedy steps to embrace me when I arrive for pick up.  I love that I only am giving up 3 hours with you each day.  Next year's full day is going to be tough for you, but I know you'll make it after having such a lovely introduction to school. 

You need extra cuddles and are exhausted, yelling at me far more than you ever have, begging for home and snugglin' the instant we get in the car.  It is bitter sweet times for me.  I knew all the little buds in your class so I knew you would be in great partnerships at school, but next year is ALL day.  I think I already mentioned that.  I am searching for my next thing to do, right now photography seems to be there for me each time I want to take it.  But, my days without cuddles are going to be colder, a little more lonely with more anticipation of picking up both my kiddos in the afternoon, perked to hear the day's happenings.  I am so proud of you. 
Love, Mama

Showing Off Birthday Presents

Waiting for guests

Dear Hazelita, 
My sweet girl, you turned 4 this September 8th.  This birthday marked six months of passionately awaited expectations of a party!  On exiting the library flipping your dark braids around you broke away from me to let our favorite librarian know that your birthday was coming up.  I nodded from behind and clarified in like 3 months you'd be 4 while you gushed on to described your party as a pony party in an alley with lots of pizza and jars of candy.  Checking out from the grocery you let polite checker know too of your alley pony pizza candy party, in two months but so and so are coming, and so and so and....  Finally, each day creeped by with the slowness of a snail until the day was here.  Two o'clock seemed so far away.  Bahboo and P, Grandma Jean and Aunt Glo, Uncle Dave and Goldie the best dog in the world showed up and the party started.  We got the cotton candy machine set up and party decorations, tables and Henry filled the pinata (stashing a half bag of candy in the cabinet.)  Soon, the party was full swing with all of your guest wishing you a happy birthday and despite the line stating no need for presents you make an amazingly thoughtful haul of presents and cards.  There was beautiful weather and a great swell of energy, and I don't think it was just the cotton candy machine going faster than little hands could wind it up on the naked paper cones.  

Great people together to celebrate my best girl created the excitement all on its own.  

Next was breaking the pinata.  Holy excitement!  Kids lined up and everyone got a couple of chances to wack and swing at the pinata, even a couple of adults.  It was intense and exciting to watch!  

After the pinata we sang happy birthday and cut cake. Yum!  Your birthday was a sugar feast.  

I'm so glad we had a party at our house this year.  I am so grateful the weather was perfect.  I'm so grateful for you.  Many more happy birthdays my lil peach. Love, Mama             

Beauty School Drop Out

Dear Hayzittle....
This week you were practicing your scissor use with some fancy scissors.  This was fine but you weren't able to cut with them well because of their big handles.  So, I found a dollar pair that would fit your little mitts and taught you the rules on how to hold the scissors when walking with them, how to hold them in your hand and how to cut paper and "ONLY PAPER or if Mommy says it is okay to cut."  So we cleaned up after our little lesson together and I went to the bathroom to get prepared to leave to pick up your brother from school.  I came out of the bathroom to an unreasonable quietness and called out your name.  You came down the hall holding something in your hand...Oh it is your little scissors.  Look at you! Holding them just like Mommy showed you........uh...your hair....where did this hunk of hair come from...HAZEL!  Where did you do this?  You said with a giant grin, "My room, Mama.  I cut my hair."

Why yes you did.  Luckily in the same parking lot as Henry's school is a hair stylist and I dropped in and she evened it up so it could grow together.  The entire way there you were giggly and unleashed, very proud and exuberant.  After your short fringe trim we played at the playground where you were dragon for the 8 year old boys playing on the climber, growling and screaming them away again, and again.  If anyone brings up your haircut you get so proud.  I guess there is that in this thing that is going to be a long grow out.  I couldn't not laugh, the whole thing made you so happy.  When we returned home you demanded I take photos of you on the sidewalk.  

Then at Target the next day you tried to beg me into buying you a Tiger Beat Magazine...slow down lil mama! 
 
Love, Mama

Happy Birthday Big girl of 3.

Dear Hazelita, 
September 8th you turned 3!  You are walking talking sweet pea.  You have a strong voice when you feel you need it but do not hesitated to tell me 500 times a day, "You're my mama! I'm your big girl (which changed the day you turned 3 from I'm your baby.)  You've yelled at people who complemented me on my pretty baby.  A firm foot stomp and a shake of a flung back head and your hands draw to your hips as you declare with a fanned out hand, "I big girl! NOT BABY! I three."  You and I spent the afternoon playing at the Wonder Lab before picking Henny up from school.   

For your birthday you requested dinner with chippies, which means Mexican food.  You opened your presents there.  We got you a precious little deer necklace, bracelet and ring ansamble, a huge tube of cupcake chapstick you smeared on so thick your lips look dipped in wax, some animal socks, big girl undies you cheered about but then tossed to the side because you'll do the potty thing sometime before college, some Hotwheels racetracks,  and then a cell phone that beeps.  

The cellphone was compliments of your big brother.  As we were standing in line buying items for the school fundraiser Henry spotted it and jabbed me in the side.  I slipped him the money to pay in another line, but as he waited he kept trying to hide it but dropped it and flipped it and was struggling to keep it secret but managed it in the end.  You were excited and have been carrying it every day since.  We came home and had your requested dragon ice cream cake.  YUM!  

During the week there were even more birthday recognition when Bahboo came over with some sweet Frozen books for you.  Then at lunch with Heather D she princessed you up with a tiara, earrings, an Olaf and a wand. 

Then birthday money from Aunt Ruthie, Grandpa Tim and Trish and Grandma Jean finished out your week.  Your first desire for your birthday money, a salad.  A week later we drove up to visit your birthmama, WW and birth grandma for lunch and lil dollar store jaunt.  You had salad again and they were shocked when you actually ate it.  

WW gave you a lil silver bracelet that said best buds and L gave you some treats from the dollar store.  You were in heaven.  So many people love you lil mama.  Happy birthday, sweet pea.
Love, Mama